With the support of a grant from President Lee C. Bollinger, the Presidential Global Fellowship offers first-year undergraduates who are seeking to develop a strong global foundation and a deeper understanding of the world around them with a unique opportunity to enrich their Columbia education beginning in the summer after their first year.

The Fellowship will provide funding for participation on a Columbia summer study abroad program to a highly select group of intellectually curious students who are able to imagine how an overseas experience can influence their examination of critical issues and who are committed to finding meaningful ways to engage a broad range of global topics throughout their undergraduate career.

To accommodate a broad range of interests, the Fellowship provides structured advising and enhanced programming that supports the development of individualized global education plans. These customized plans help guide the Fellows while they study abroad and when they return so they may make the best use of the University’s global networks on campus and in the world beyond College Walk.

The Office of Global Programs and Fellowships will be hosting three information sessions about the fellowship:

October 18th, 2016 from 3-4 pm in the Core Conference Room, Hamilton 202

October 28th, 2016 from 1-2 pm in the Core Conference Room, Hamilton 202

November 17th, 2016 from 1-2 pm in the Core Conference Room, Hamilton 202

Features and Highlights

• A scholarship that covers the program fee for a Columbia summer study abroad program.

• A stipend to cover round-trip airfare to and from the program site plus living expenses recommended by the program.

• Enhanced advising that focuses on how the Fellows can channel their global experiences into future intellectual, professional, and personal pursuits. This includes specialized academic, career, and fellowship advising sessions that allow the Fellows to develop individualized global education plans and to outline a strategy for achieving their goals.

• Faculty mentoring to help shape the individualized global education plan in the context of an intellectual pursuit in the Fellow’s chosen area of study.

• Alumni mentoring in the Fellow’s summer host country or region to connect students with local networks and provide insight into the host culture and community.

• Activities before and after the study abroad program that deepen the relationships between Fellows, including group advising and shared reflection sessions.

• Access to the Columbia Global Centers network.

Eligibility

Candidates for the Presidential Global Fellowship must:

• Be a matriculated student with first-year standing in Columbia College, the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, or the School of General Studies during spring 2017,

• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better by the end of the fall term,

• Apply and be accepted to a Columbia Summer Study Abroad Program for summer 2017, and

• Be committed to the goals of the Fellowship.

Apply

Application Deadline: December 15

Applicants must apply to both Columbia Summer Program as well as directly to the Presidential Global Fellowship.

Note: The Presidential Global Fellowship application deadline may be earlier than the program deadline. Applicants should complete the Fellowship application by the Fellowship deadline. Applicants are also responsible for completing a Columbia Summer Program application by February 1 or the program deadline if it is earlier.

Note: Selected applicants must be available to participate in a pre-selection interview in February.

1. Apply to the Presidential Global Fellowship.

The application includes:

• Presidential Global Fellowship Questionnaire

• Recommendation from a faculty member, instructor, an advisor, a supervisor, or another person who you feel can articulate and support your ability and motivation to develop and follow through on your vision and effort to globalize your Columbia education. This person does not have to a Columbia faculty/advisor and may be someone who you worked closely with in high school or in another capacity.

2. Apply to a Columbia Summer Study Abroad Program that meets your academic and personals goals.

Below is a list of summer programs available for the Presidential Global Fellowship. These are the programs that were offered in 2016 and many of these programs will be offered again for 2017, however this list for Summer 2017 is in the process of being finalized and more information about the final list of programs will be available soon.

Program Responsibilities

Presidential Global Fellows are required to participate in all activities that will be scheduled before and after the summer study abroad experience. Fellows are expected to complete all reading and writing assignments in order to make the most of the enhanced advising and the overseas experience. To that end, Fellows will:

• Participate in predeparture advising meetings after their acceptance to the Fellowship (Spring 2017)

• Attend an on-campus predeparture orientation session for the summer program (Spring 2017)

• Complete the summer study abroad program by fully participating in the academic program while simultaneously utilizing the time abroad to begin pursuing the goals of the individualized global education plan (Summer 2017)

• Prepare written materials on the overseas experience in advance of a post-summer reflection session (Fall 2017)

• Engage in advising sessions with faculty to integrate the study abroad experience into their academic development (ongoing)

• Participate in advising sessions to explore future international opportunities, including internships, fellowships, study abroad, and research during their tenure at Columbia and beyond (ongoing)

• Assist in building the Fellowship program by mentoring future Fellows and participating in program-related activities (ongoing)

Only current first year students in CC/SEAS/GS are eligible for this Fellowship. The goal of this program is to foster a greater understanding of the world among undergraduates and to help students envision new ways of engaging with global topics and opportunities throughout their time at Columbia. First-year students who are influenced early on by their global experience will bring these new perspectives back to campus and share these with their classmates through interactions both inside and outside of the classroom.

Other opportunities are available to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Please check the following websites for more information:

What is considered first-year standing for School of General Studies students?

GS students are considered current first-year students and are eligible to apply to this Fellowship if they have no more than 36 cumulative credits (inclusive of transfer credit) by the start of the summer program. GS students with transfer credit are encouraged to consult a GS advisor if they are in question of their class-standing.

Are non-U.S. citizens eligible to apply?

Yes, non-U.S. citizens are eligible to apply.

Am I eligible to apply if I plan to study on a summer program not administered by Columbia?

The Presidential Global Fellowship is only available to select students who plan on studying on one of the Columbia summer programs as a way to strengthen the network of global relationships among members of the Columbia community.

How can I choose a program that might be appropriate for me?

For more detailed information, please go to the Office of Global Programs website and click on “Programs”. Check each program’s website for more specific information. In general, many of the courses that were offered in summer 2016 will be offered in summer 2017. However, there may be additional courses added or new programs that will launch next summer. Final summer 2017 information will be available by December 2016.

Can I apply to more than one Columbia Summer Program?

No, you can only apply to one Columbia Summer Program.

Who can I ask to write my recommendation?

You should ask someone who you feel can articulate and support your ability and motivation to develop and follow through on your vision and effort to globalize your Columbia education. This person can be a Columbia faculty, advisor, or someone who you worked closely with in high school or in another capacity.

How many students will receive the Fellowship?

This will depend on the pool of applicants but it is anticipated that 10-15 students will be awarded a fellowship.

What is included in the Fellowship?

The Fellowship will provide specialized advising sessions and programming to help fellows identify global opportunities and how they can enhance their experiences at Columbia and their future intellectual, professional and personal goals.

Each Fellow will be awarded a scholarship that covers the program fee for a Columbia summer study abroad program in addition to a stipend to cover round-trip airfare to and from the program site plus living expenses recommended by the program. Details about the disbursement will be provided to each awardee at a later date.

What is the selection process and timeframe?

A committee will review the Fellowship application to select candidates who will be interviewed in late January/early February. Fellowship awardees will be notified in February. These finalists will also be notified about acceptance to the Columbia summer program around the same time. For some summer programs, the decisions might be made earlier than the Fellowship decision. Acceptance into a Columbia Summer Program does not automatically mean that a Fellowship will be awarded.

I have more questions and I would like to speak with an advisor. Who can answer my questions?

2. Columbia Summer Programs Information Sessions and Advising:
Information sessions for specific Columbia summer programs will take place in October or November, and information will be posted on this site. Students are welcome to visit an advisor during their drop in office hours.

4. Center for Career Education quick questions:Center for Career Education holds daily meetings that are ten minutes long from 1-4 pm and allows students to meet with a counselor without a prior appointment for answers to quick questions.